Our trip to Orana Wildlife Park

Today we went on a family outing to Orana wildlife park, or as we told Andrew the Zoo. We had lots of fun. Andrew was worn out by the end as he walked most of the time.

Here we are in a walk through aviary. Mummy got to get up close to one of her favourite birds a NZ wood pigeon. We also walked through another aviary with kea's. Andrew calls these Cheeky Kea from previous encounters.

We spent the first part of the time going to keeper talks and watching the animals being fed. This included tigers and ruffled lemurs as shown here.

The highlight of the day was getting to hand feed the giraffes. You are given a branch and you pretend to be a tree and let the giraffe strip the leaves off the branch with its tongue. Andrew was a little unsure about this but did manage to give the giraffe his branch. Mummy had to hold her branch in one hand and keep Rachel away in the other arm. Mummy did manage to pat the giraffe on its neck. They are a truly majestic animal to get up close too. But they also have a certain gentleness.

Andrew's new word for the day was rhinoceros (these ones are southern white rhinoceros). Although later in the day this was shorten to rhino.

We walked around most of the park but also took advantage of Safari shuttle to make a circuit of most of the park. In addition to those previously mentioned the other animals we saw included lions (they are quite large), tuatara (plus other reptiles), meerkats, zebra and springboks.

Tonight Rachel and I thanked God for making such an amazing variety of animals.

New water play toy

Andrew and Rachel got this cool water playset for Christmas as a joint present. It includes boats, ramps, locks and a crane.

This morning (boxing day) they played outside with it for about an hour. By that time they had learnt a little more about sharing, were completely soaked and most of the water was out of the playset. They had had lots of fun though.

Christmas 2009

This Christmas was slightly unusual for us as we stayed at home for Christmas. Grandparents Harris have come to visit and we have had time with the cousins.

The day started around 6.30am. Grandma and Grandad Harris got up too to open some of our presents.

Rachel thinks that Andrew's playdough looks pretty great. She will get play with some of his new playdough toys but in the highchair not on the carpet.

Andrew and Daddy opening a parcel. What is it going to be?

It was lego.Stephen has been waiting for Andrew to be old enough to play with lego. Here they are trying to build one of the house in the ideas book. Andrew has the right idea.

We hosted eleven for Christmas lunch. This is what it looked like before people arrived. Luckily I remembered at the beginning of Church I had forgotten to turn on the oven with the meat in it. I went home and all was fine.

After lunch it was time for more presents. The next couple of photos are for Granny and Grandpa Denne of Rachel enjoying her new horse. The dress was made by Aunty Margaret.

Andrew got more lego from Uncle David. These photos of him and Daddy putting the vehicle together are for Uncle David who wasn't here for Christmas.

Rachel was trying to help

Look it is all finished.

First swim for the summer

Ever since we moved house Andrew has been wanting to go swimming in "his" pool. When the forecasting another hot day on Monday I put the paddling pool out on the deck. Although it wasn't as warm as forecast the kids had lots of fun. They didn't want to get out.

Watching the parade

The weekend we were in Blenheim coincided with the celebrations of 150 years of the province of Marlborough. They had a parade on the Sunday afternoon which the kids were enthralled by.

Rachel was having lunch when it all started.

Every time I look at her she was focused on what was happening on the street.

Here is Granddad on their Church float, themed yesterday, today and forever. He has his back to us wearing the black hat.

At the end of the parade.

Fun at Granddad and Grandma's

A couple of weeks ago the kids and Mummy went to Granddad and Grandma's Harris's house for a few days. Here are some photos taken then. Unfortunately we didn't get with Grandma.

Rachel shows Granddad how her toy works.

Andrew's lovely smile

Andrew and Granddad on the swing.

P.S some people may have received this with just the photos. Sorry.

Charlie Bear goes to Kindy

On Thursday Kindy had a Teddy Bears picnic. I just asked Andrew about the photo below and he said it was a photo of Andrew and Charlie Bear wearing hats because we going to kindy. They are wearing hats because you have wear a hat to go outside. It was Andrew who insisted that Charlie Bear needed a hat. After Kindy Andrew told me that Charlie Bear was tired so needed to have a rest on the couch.

Rachel learns too.

Rachel wanted to learn to throw stones too. She hasn't quite worked out that you need to let go when you throw stones. I would count one two, three and then we would throw it together but she wouldn't let go. She was enjoying it though.

In photo above she has worked out how to let go but they were just dropping to the ground.

Teaching Andrew to throw Stones

Andrew has a fascination with Stones at present. Stephen thought if we took him somewhere to throw stones into the river he would learn the appropriate place to throw stones. Here are some cute photos. He was more dropping stones than throwing.

Our Saturday outing

On Labour weekend Saturday we went exploring along the Ashely river gorge. We drove across a dirt road that winds up above the Ashley River gorge and down into the Lee valley. Then we came back to the Ashley gorge bridge reserve. Here are some photos from our trip.


Having lunch beside the river. This was in the Lee valley. Stephen had to go exploring to find a spot where we could get close to the river.

Rachel and Stephen beside the river.

This photo shows the road as it winds down to a bridge in the middle of the Gorge.

This is the bridge we were beside. We were quite surprised to find such an engineered bridge on a dirt road.